Rentzenbrink was coming to terms with the end of her second marriage and battling decisions on how best to help her son who wasn't coping with school or how to find his place in life.

She turned to Agatha Christie books as a means to divert herself and find some consolation but, in doing so, she decided to read the 66 detective novels in order and also to read the six romances, and Christie's autobiography.

In immersing herself in the genius of Christie's writing and exploring some of the troubles and triumphs of the life of the Queen of Crime, Rentzenbrink finds her own escape and hope for the future.

This is both a memoir and a personal response to Christie's writing, with a number of the novels explored in more detail - telling us something of the story's genesis as well as Rentzenbrink's response to it. 

It's a lovely book! It read as if it was a friend writing me long letters about all they were going through - the difficulties, the funny moments, and the delights in reading a familiar, much-loved author. I rattled through it but felt that I wanted to come back to it, keeping it to hand as I rediscovered the writing and the life of Agatha Christie, in whom I have long been fascinated.